Detroit Lions quarterback Matthew Stafford (9) smiles at the line of scrimmage during the second half of an NFL football game against the Kansas City Chiefs in Detroit, Sunday, Sept. 18, 2011. (AP Photo/Carlos Osorio)

ALLEN PARK -- While the Detroit Lions have made no secret of the fact they want to extend Matthew Stafford's contract this offseason, their reasoning might not be what you expect.

Stafford has two years remaining on his contract and certainly extending it would create more immediate room under the salary cap. That, however, is not the goal.

"Matthew Stafford is our quarterback and we hope is our quarterback for a long time,'' Lions president Tom Lewand told beat writers on Friday.

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"The reason for a contract extension with Matthew is to fulfill that goal of having him be our quarterback for a long time. It's not a short-term look at the salary cap. that's the wrong way to look at that.''

Stafford is signed through 2014. His salary cap hit in 2013 is set to be $20,820,000.

The estimated NFL salary cap per team is $121 million.

"That's a very short-term focus to look at just what changes might be made to a first-year cap. That's not the reason to do it,'' Lewand said. "The reason to have an extension with Matthew is just like the reason to have an extension with Calvin (Johnson) last year was to secure their services for a long period of time.''

Johnson signed an eight-year, $150.5 million contract on March 13, 2012.

"Matthew has two years left on his deal, Calvin didn't. It's a different circumstance. It makes sense for us to explore it because it's in the right interest of the franchise and the right interest of Matthew long-term, not because we need any short-term cap relief,'' Lewand said. "That's the wrong motivation for doing a contract.''

Lewand said they have to look at an "extended horizon basis" not just what happens in the first year of a contract extension.

"We have to make sure that our plans aren't contingent on any one contract, that's the wrong way to approach planning,'' Lewand said.

No certainty on Avril

Lewand would not offer specifics on any contract negotiations including for defensive end Cliff Avril who was franchised last July after he and the Lions could not agree on a long-term deal.

"We value the contributions that Cliff made last year, we value the contributions that a lot of guys made,'' Lewand said. "Cliff made a decision not to accept the offer we put on the table last July and I respect that. I respected that at the time I respect it now. We'll see where the conversations take us over the next few weeks.''

Rams cut Titus Young

Titus Young's career with the St. Louis Rams was basically over before it started.

Rams coach Jeff Fisher confirmed on Friday that Young was cut by the Rams just 10 days after he was claimed on waivers.

Young had visited the Rams facility in St. Louis this week. Fisher said that Young was not cut due to health or injury concerns. The coach said he thought perhaps Young was better suited for a different NFL team.

Young, a second-round draft pick in 2011, was released by the Lions on Feb. 4, the first day NFL teams were allowed to make cuts.

It's highly likely his NFL career is over at the young age of 23.

Backus, Hanson work out

Kicker Jason Hanson and left tackle Jeff Backus, two of the longest-serving Lions, have been spotted in the Lions practice facility recently.

Possibly it signals that both are planning to return, but it's not a certainty according to team president Tom Lewand.

Hanson, who has been the kicker for 21 seasons, is a free agent while Backus is under contract through the 2013 season.